Rookie-sophomore game snub upsets Minnesota Timberwolves' Kevin Love

If Kevin Love seemed to come out with a little extra fire Wednesday night, there was a good reason.

The Timberwolves' first-year forward was steamed he wasn't selected for the Feb. 13 NBA rookie-sophomore game that will precede this year's All-Star Game in Phoenix two days later.

Love was still hot after the Wolves' 98-89 loss to the Detroit Pistons, despite notching his ninth double-double with 17 points and 10 rebounds.

"That rookie-sophomore (bull)," Love said. "I'm sorry to say, but that's what it was. I was pretty upset today about it, but I'm not going to let that drag into the future at all. There's always next year. Pardon my French, but that was just (bull)."

Wolves coach Kevin McHale had a similar reaction before the game.

"I just heard (that). What a travesty that is," he said. "That's utterly ridiculous. Who picks that team?"

Informed that assistant coaches do, McHale said: "No way. Really?"

Asked by a writer if he was about to pin it on the media, he admitted, "I was."

Telfair hurting: Wolves point guard Sebastian Telfair sat out the final 10 minutes, 15 seconds Wednesday, and not just because he had five fouls.

"Bassy's thigh was more of an issue than foul trouble," McHale said.

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"I felt bad. He was playing OK, but I just thought there was no use overextending him. I appreciate his effort, but it was more his inability, I thought, to really use his speed. We lost Bassy and his ability to turn the corner, and that hurts us in what we're trying to do."

McHale said it looked as if the Wolves were playing in mud against the Pistons, and Love agreed that Telfair's injury, which he suffered Monday night at Milwaukee, could have been a factor.

"He got hit in that first quarter real early and was hobbling," Love said. "We knew he was hurt, but he stuck it out. You've got to give him credit for that, but just Bassy being able to get back on D, that would have helped us a bunch."

Telfair had eight points and three assists in a little more than 20 minutes.

Miller still struggling: Mike Miller hit an early three-pointer for the Wolves but finished with just five points on 2-of-5 shooting in 35 1/2 minutes.

The former starter has scored in double figures just once in 13 games since returning from a second sprained ankle, but McHale insisted he isn't worried.

"If Mike was not rebounding, defending, passing the ball, I'd be a lot more concerned about him," he said. McHale said he went through plenty of slumps as a player and that it is easier for a big man like him to get to the basket and get out of it.

Big Al show: The Wolves' recent success has resulted in national attention for center Al Jefferson, who will learn today whether he has been selected as an all-star reserve. Jefferson appeared on NBA TV on Tuesday night and will be featured today in a story in USA Today.